The story of Rémi, a disabled worker at Onet Logistique

Rémi Glacis is 26 years old. He is a carrier of trisomy 21, the 1st diagnosed cause of mental deficiency of genetic origin (it is one of the most common genetic diseases, with around 450 births per year in France).

Since 2018, Rémi has been working on the logistics platform of a tire manufacturer near Valenciennes.

Onet Logistique andAGEFIPH worked closely together to integrate him and adapt his workstation, both in terms of assignments and working hours. Hired on a permanent contract, his story is well worth telling.

The hiring of Rémi Glacis or how it all began

For several years now, site operations manager Maxime Goffart has been keen to promote diversity within his teams at the logistics platform where he works. Understanding others by interacting with them on a daily basis is a way of shaking up preconceived ideas and gaining acceptance for differences. And then, beyond this desire, there's sometimes chance.

Maxime Goffart learned Rémi's "story" through an acquaintance. It's the story of a father who, upon retirement, sells the company in which his son Rémi used to work. A few months after the sale, Rémi was laid off. Deeply affected by this situation, and determined that Rémi should join his team, Maxime approached his family and AGEFIPH. The aim was to see if his profile and skills could be matched to the missions he could be entrusted with.

Maxime's hiring plans were refined, and he had the full support of his management team, in particular manager Benoît Galy. And so it was with this determination, pedagogy and collaborative work that Rémi was hired by Onet Logistique in Rouvignies.

" Yes, there are differences... we're all different! And we all have the right to work and respect each other," says Maxime Goffart, who has become Rémi's company tutor.

Evolving missions for ever greater fulfillment

" Rémi's main tasks are to prepare files and then sort them. He has also been asked to sort pallets to break his routine and discover other worlds. His determination and seriousness mean that his missions are constantly evolving, " Maxime confides. His role also adapts according to the context: "At the moment, Rémi is also in charge of preparing covid protection masks for all the site's employees," he adds.

Always on the lookout for new tasks, once a month he works alongside Amandine Velu in the HR department, inserting pay slips and other information. He also works on personal protective equipment (PPE), sorting handling gloves, for example. " Everything was added little by little. As with everyone else, the tasks have to evolve according to each person's profile, and their ability to adapt. That's how we've been able to go further in assigning his duties ," explains Maxime, adding that "like any employee, he assimilates the processes as he goes along, even if it sometimes takes a little longer".

A rich and happy human adventure

What Maxime remembers most about this integration is the generosity of the staff. Many enjoy working with Rémi, as much as sharing their coffee breaks with him. A pleasure shared by Rémi. " He likes to drink coffee with his colleagues and take his lunch break with them. Some of them have even formed strong bonds with him: " A real friendship has developed with David Bacouet, an administrative officer with whom he shares an office. He's sort of taken him under his wing... When I'm not there, he's his other reference point .

It's true that it requires a great deal of personal investment, because you have to support the apprentice and keep a close eye on his or her environment, and make sure that the apprentice's tasks are perfectly adapted. We do it with enthusiasm and pleasure," emphasizes Maxime. He would like other sites to follow his example and embark on this human adventure.

" I hope to inspire employees at other sites to promote diversity and to put their trust in us! Invest in yourself and you'll be all the happier for the return you get, because that's what makes the difference. It influences the general social climate, and from a personal point of view, it also brings a lot," concludes Maxime.

Rémi's assessment of these two years is also very positive: " I like working. I like my office," he confides. Not forgetting to add enthusiastically, "I like the coffee break and the chocolates too! Reflecting a daily routine filled with simplicity and good humor that everyone appreciates!

Onet's global approach to diversity

The Group's disability policy: our values at the service of our strategy

We are pursuing our disability policy initiated in 2016, with the aim of better inclusion of people with disabilities and job retention actions to combat unfitness.

" We now need to embark on a policy of inclusion," says Laurence Lelouvier, the Group's Human Resources Director.

We are committed to developing a culture conducive to the employment and professional development of people with disabilities.

A network of local disability advisors is currently in place within Onet to support teams in the recognition, skills development, employability and job retention of people with disabilities.

From integration to inclusion

To ensure that diversity becomes the norm, and that we move beyond the notion of integration towards inclusion, in 2019 we initiated a coordination of our policies towards the various diversity publics: men, women, young people, seniors, jobseekers, from priority urban districts, people with disabilities, discrimination... The objective remains the same: inclusion for a better quality of life at work. We also worked on preparing the implementation of the law on the freedom to choose one's professional future, in particular its section on promoting inclusive business.

Onet's commitment during SEEPH

For many years now, the European Week for the Employment of People with Disabilities (SEEPH) has been an integral part of the Group's HR strategy. Through this annual event, we highlight all our inclusive actions. This event is an opportunity to review the principles of disability. The week-long event includes fun and friendly activities (games, training, tools) for all employees.

Find out more about this year's edition, SEEPH 2020.

Signatory of the Diversity Charter

Since November 2006, we have been a signatory to the Diversity Charter, a commitment that condemns discrimination in employment and promotes diversity. As stated in our Code of Ethics, respecting the principle of non-discrimination and ensuring that employees are treated fairly with regard to discriminatory criteria, from the moment they are recruited and throughout their career, form the basis of our diversity approach.

Job A Coeur

Onet supports the association and inclusive employment platform Job A Coeur. From now on, our job offers will be available on this online platform, which puts job applicants in touch with inclusive recruiters and associative or institutional employment partners to promote inclusion in employment, throughout France.

To find out more about our actions, read our responsible development report.